LITTLE ROCK — North Little Rock Alderman Bruce Foutch overcame an incumbents’ jinx in the city’s Ward 3 Tuesday to win a runoff against North Little Rock School Board member Darrell Montgomery.
With all precincts reporting, the unofficial results were:
Foutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,242 Montgomery . . . . . . . . . . . 995
“Historically, it was questionable,” said Foutch, 59, director of contract services at Pathfinder Inc. “But I had great hopes the folks in the ward would realize what [fellow Alderman] Steve [Baxter] and I have done and would keep us together as a team. We took the runoff jinx off of Ward 3.”
It was the sixth consecutive time a Ward 3 alderman election, either general or special, has gone to a runoff. In those, the incumbent was voted out three times. Two other aldermen from Ward 3 had resigned because of criminal charges during that time.
Foutch won a special election runoff in March 2011 to gain his position on the City Council.
He had led the Nov. 6 general election over Montgomery, 45, a contract specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Foutch received 1,906 votes to 1,575 for Montgomery, and former Alderman John Parker had the other 1,371 votes.
The Ward 3 candidate who trailed in a regular election won the ensuing runoff election four of the past five times before Tuesday.
Foutch said the continuing changeover of the ward’s aldermen hurt their efforts to correct issues within the ward.
“I think the folks in the ward recognize the work that we’ve done and the effort that we’ve put in,” Foutch said. “A lot of folks who came out today [Tuesday] said we’re happy with what’s going on, and we like the progress you’re making and want to keep moving forward.”
Montgomery was unopposed in September for reelection to the School Board. If elected to the City Council, he would have been able to hold both positions.
Through a spokesman who returned a phone call for comment, Montgomery relayed his thanks for all who voted and appreciation to those who supported him.
Ward 3 covers generally the area that extends from Camp Robinson Road west to the city’s border with Maumelle.
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 11/28/2012